No.09/06 (T.A.)

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 9 JANUARY 2006

The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. The Speaker’s Business

2.1

The Speaker announced the death of Mr David Ervine MLA, a Member for the East Belfast Constituency.

The Sitting was, by leave, suspended at 10.33 am as a mark of respect to the late Mr David Ervine.

The Sitting resumed at 11.00 am.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion – Road Safety

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the ongoing tragedy of deaths and serious accidents on our roads and calls on an incoming Executive to introduce a new rigorous Driver Testing framework and a Road Safety and Education programme, with the emphasis on groups most likely to be involved in road traffic accidents, reflecting international best practice, and including co-operation between all Road Safety agencies, North and South, in carrying out a safety audit of the road network and the development of a National Road Safety Campaign.

[Mr Raymond McCartney]
[Ms M Gildernew MP]

3.2 Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘introduce’ and insert:

‘a wide ranging strategy involving all relevant agencies, including measures reflecting international best practice, to tackle the problem; with particular attention paid to those most likely to be involved in road traffic accidents.’

[Lord Morrow]
[Mr E Poots]

Deputy Speaker (Mr Jim Wells) in the Chair.

Debate ensued.

The Speaker in the Chair.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made (Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.

The Sitting was, by leave, suspended at 1.06 pm.

The Sitting resumed at 2.00 pm.

3.3 Motion – Autism

Proposed: That this Assembly recognises the need for, and supports the introduction of, legislation which would guarantee the future security and rights of those on the autistic spectrum and would combat the tragic social injustice being perpetuated through lack of planning and funding, at a time when the number of individuals with autism is increasing dramatically.

[Mr D Bradley]

3.4 Amendment

Proposed: At end insert:

‘; and further calls for the immediate funding and implementation of the long overdue centre of excellence for autism at Middletown, Co. Armagh.’

[Mr B McElduff]
[Mr J O’Dowd]

Debate ensued.

Deputy Speaker (Mr Francie Molloy) in the Chair.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell without division.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

4. Adjournment

4.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 4.09 pm.

Mrs Eileen Bell
The Speaker
9 January 2007

9 JANUARY 2007

DIVISIONS

Division No 1

Road Safety

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘introduce’ and insert:

‘a wide ranging strategy involving all relevant agencies, including measures reflecting international best practice, to tackle the problem; with particular attention paid to those most likely to be involved in road traffic accidents.’

[Lord Morrow]
[Mr E Poots]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes : 36
Noes : 26

Ayes

Billy Armstrong, Norah Beare, Roy Beggs, Billy Bell, Paul Berry, Esmond Birnie, Thomas Buchanan, Gregory Campbell, Wilson Clyde, Michael Copeland, Robert Coulter, Leslie Cree, George Dawson, Nigel Dodds, Jeffrey Donaldson, Reg Empey, David Ford, Arlene Foster, Samuel Gardiner, Paul Girvan, William Hay, David Hilditch, Danny Kennedy, Kieran McCarthy, William McCrea, Alan McFarland, Michael McGimpsey, Lord Morrow, Stephen Moutray, Ian Paisley Jnr, Edwin Poots, George Robinson, Iris Robinson, Peter Robinson, Mervyn Storey, Peter Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Billy Armstrong and David Hilditch.

Noes

Alex Attwood, Dominic Bradley, Mary Bradley, Francis Brolly, Thomas Burns, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Tommy Gallagher, Michelle Gildernew, Carmel Hanna, Gerry Kelly, Alban Maginness, Fra McCann, Raymond McCartney, Alasdair McDonnell, Barry McElduff, Philip McGuigan, Francie Molloy, Conor Murphy, John O'Dowd, Tom O'Reilly, Pat Ramsey, Sue Ramsey, Margaret Ritchie, Caitriona Ruane, Kathy Stanton.

Tellers for the Noes: Sue Ramsey and Margaret Ritchie.

The Amendment was made.

8 January / Menu / 15 January